Irfan Pathan anticipates the return of Mitchell Starc to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the IPL 2024 auction, considering the potential high demand for the Australian speedster. Starc had previously donned the RCB jersey in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, amassing an impressive 34 wickets during his stint with the Bengaluru-based franchise. The left-arm pacer’s ability to consistently deliver at a pace exceeding 140, coupled with his familiarity with the team, makes him a valuable asset for RCB.
In an interview with Star Sports, Pathan expressed his belief that RCB, having released Josh Hazlewood and facing injury concerns with Reece Topley, will be actively seeking a foreign pacer in the upcoming auction. Pathan emphasized the importance of Starc’s skill set, especially when playing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
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“I really think you might see Mitchell Starc playing for RCB because he was there before. They would want him there as well because being a left-armer, bowling 140-plus, having that extra pace in those types of pitches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will be of utmost importance for RCB,” remarked Irfan Pathan.
Discussing RCB’s squad dynamics, Pathan speculated on the potential reasons behind releasing Harshal Patel. He suggested that the emergence of Vyshak Vijaykumar, an underrated bowler with an impressive slower delivery, could have influenced RCB’s decision to part ways with Patel.
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“They have a very underrated bowler right now, which people might not be talking about, that’s Vyshak Vijaykumar, who came as a replacement. I thought there were quite a few things to like about him. His slower one was very impressive and that is why I think RCB have taken the decision to leave out Harshal Patel,” explained Irfan Pathan.
As RCB strategizes for the IPL 2024, the potential inclusion of Starc and the emergence of Vijaykumar could shape the team’s bowling dynamics.
